| | This book continues the series of histories we have produced on the mountain railways of Chile but adds a new dimension as it is a co-production between the South American specialist Donald Binns and the Chilean railway historian Harold A Middleton. Here is the story of the least well-known of the major Chilean nitrate railways which operated for nearly a century in the challenging terrain of Taltal which yielded nitrates, gold and other minerals. A diverse range of British-built tank engines from Nasmyth Wilson, Dübs, Vulcan Foundry, North British Locomotive and Beyer Peacock handled all operations until a series of Kitson Meyers arrived. This original equipment was later supplemented by a bewildering array of second-hand steam power which was to last until closure in the 1970s which became the final chapter of Kitson Meyer operations in the world. The nitrate industry and oficina railways that supplied the nitrate are also discussed. In the usual Trackside style including many previously unpublished historic images and maps, together with rare classic action photography by A. E. 'Dusty' Durrant and Roy Christian. Taltal was little visited by outsiders and compiling this book has involved considerable research of archives in Europe and in Chile where little has been published before. Contents:
- Introduction
- 1 – The Origins of the nitrate industry
- 2 – The Taltal railway – inauguration and development
- 3 – The early twentieth century – years of prosperity
- 4 – Taltal railway locomotives 1881-1907
- 5 – The years 1910-1919 and the war in Europe
- 6 – Taltal and its port
- 7 – The Lautaro Interest
- 8 – The Taltal railway: 1920s and 1930s
- 9 – The Taltal railway towards the end
- Appendices
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